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Body Energy Clock
Body Energy Clock
Body Energy Clock
Energy
Discover The Secrets Of The Chinese Energy Clock
Matthew Harrigan
BodyEnergyBook.com
Body Energy - Discover The Secrets of The Chinese Energy Clock
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This book is not a replacement for professional medical advice or treatment. You should always consult
your physician about any medical issues.
Resources
Introduction
While spending several years living above my in-law’s acupuncture and herbal
clinic in the 1990’s I became very interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine
and its mysterious methods of healing the mind and body.
While reading Chi Kung: Cultivating Personal Energy by James MacRitchie I
became fascinated by the fact that our bodies run on energy (chi) that travels
along pathways (meridians) the same way electrical current runs through a house
powering appliances and electric devices. Even more intriguing to me was the
fact that this chi energy flowed at specific times of day and in a pattern of
movement that could be followed through each of the 12 major acupuncture
meridians over a 24 hour period.
The 24-hour cycle of chi is what governs the movement of chi energy throughout
the body. It begins in the lung meridian at 3am and continues for 2 hours then
moves to the colon meridian from 5am until 7am. This cycle continues for 24
hours as the chi energy energizes each of the 12 major meridians and returns to
the lung meridian at 3am the next day to begin the cycle over again.
If you have blockages in your meridians (similar to a tripped fuse) your chi
energy will not be able to “power up” that meridian and will negatively affect
your health and well being. Being in-tune with your body and how you feel
throughout the day can help you recognize and understand which of your
meridians may be blocked or stagnate.
In this book I give you an overview of the 12 major meridians, what time your
chi will be flowing through each meridian and individual exercises and
therapies (Makko ho, chi kung, and acupressure) that you can perform to help
keep your body’s energy flowing smoothly and efficiently at all times.
A few years ago I was introduced to the Japanese meridian stretching therapy
called Makko-ho. As soon as I saw it I knew it would be the perfect exercise to
complement the 24 hour cycle of chi. Makko-ho is a series of deceptively
simple stretches designed to help re-align your body and promote chi health by
stretching your meridians.
The image above is a depiction of the six meridian stretches that make up
today’s Makko-ho series and within the book. I have coordinated them with the
meridian chi flow times so that you can either perform the entire series at once
(approximately five minutes) or you can perform these postures throughout the
day during the time your chi is flowing in a specific meridian.
Makko-ho stretches were the idea of the father of shiatsu master Shizuto
Massunaga. His father had a stroke at age 42 and with one side of his body
paralyzed he did not want to just give into his unfortunate fate. He decided to
find a way to regain his health.
He obtained the idea of performing certain body postures from Buddhist prayer
positions (which have been said to be performed innately by children all over the
world).
Over time these prayer poses developed into four main exercises and are the core
of Makko-ho today. Within three years, Shizuto Massunaga’s father managed to
heal himself dramatically.
Performing these meridian stretches daily, or practicing exercises like chi kung,
tai chi, and yoga, are some of the best ways to cultivate and enhance your body
energy.
To your health,
Matt Harrigan
BodyEnergyBook.com
Breath Awakens The Spirit
3am–5am Lung Meridian Time
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine our chi (life energy) begins to flow
in our lung meridian at 3am each morning. Our lungs extract chi from the air we
breathe and deliver it through the meridian system. Our lungs are one of our
main connections to the outside world.
You should be sleeping at this time and your body should be preparing to wake
up in the next few hours.
If you were following a totally natural lifestyle with no electricity or lights you
would more than likely have been asleep by 8pm and would be preparing to
wake at 5am. This would be a full 9 hours of restorative sleep and would keep
your body and mind healthy.
However, if you find yourself awake at this time unable to return to sleep then
you more than likely have an issue pertaining to the lung meridian and most
likely your lungs.
It is no coincidence that most asthma attacks happen in the early morning hours
between 3am and 5am. The compromised lungs of an asthmatic cannot handle
the surge of chi at this time. If you or a family member continually wake up
coughing at this time, it is best to see your family physician or specialist for a
check-up.
It is said that wearing white helps nurture our lungs and that allowing us to
express emotions helps strengthen the lungs.
The best way to enhance your chi at this time is to be asleep.
If you were to visit China and wake up in the early morning you would be
amazed at all the people who are up and exercising outdoors in the parks at this
time. This is Colon Meridian time between 5am-7am (also commonly referred to
as Large Intestine Meridian).
I believe it is the most important part of the day in Traditional Chinese Medicine
and for living in balance with nature.
The sun is rising at this time and so is your yang energy. Birds, squirrels and
other animals are up early during these hours as nature intended. However, with
the use of electricity, lights, television, and computers we have totally lost touch
with nature. We stay up well into Gall Bladder time (11pm-1am) and do not give
our bodies a chance to complete our chi cycle properly and replenish our chi
each day.
This in turn affects our ability to get up early and start the day fresh and alert. So
most people start the day with a cup of coffee and make a mad dash for the
office.
This will only lead to imbalanced and deficient chi in your body and eventually
to illness. This is the optimal time to practice chi enhancing exercises like Chi
Kung (Qigong), Tai Chi, Makko-ho (Japanese meridian stretching), Yoga or any
chi enhancing exercises that you prefer and work best for you.
The best way to enhance your chi at this time is to exercise. Makko ho, Chi
Kung (Qigong), Tai Chi, and Yoga exercises are excellent at this time of
day.
4. Now inhale and bring both hands down facing each other at your solar
plexus.
5. Now rotate your left palm out away from your body and up, and rotate your
right palm in towards your body and down. Then extend both palms up and
down and exhale as you did on the first time. Repeat for a total of 6
inhalations and exhalations.
Joy and Meaning at
High Noon
11am–1pm Heart Meridian Time
At heart meridian time (11am-1pm) you tackled the toughest tasks of your day
for the last two hours and now it is time to switch gears and work on the tasks
that are productive and give you joy and meaning.
Your yang energy is about to peak at noon and switch over to your yin energy at
1pm setting up the rest of the day as a time to start to slow down and complete a
good day’s work.
The Institute of HeartMath an internationally recognized nonprofit research and
education organization dedicated to heart-based living has been conducting
scientific studies on the heart and its relationship to the entire body and specific
organs. Here is what they have to say about the heart, "Our research and that of
others indicate that the heart is far more than a simple pump.
The heart is, in fact, a highly complex, self-organized information processing
center with its own functional "brain" that communicates with and influences the
cranial brain via the nervous system, hormonal system and other pathways.
These influences profoundly affect brain function and most of the body’s major
organs, and ultimately determine the quality of life."
The Institute of HeartMath is using modern day scientific techniques to prove
what Traditional Chinese Medicine has known for thousands of years; that the
heart is the Emperor of the body! It is believed to be the home of our
consciousness and intelligence and that it rules over our entire body.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine you can support the heart meridian
by wearing red, laughing and pursuing activities that give you joy.
The best way to enhance your chi at this time of day is through expressive,
joyful productive activities.
This is the time of day when the sun is setting and the daytime is relinquishing to
nighttime.
Inside your body yang energy is setting and yin energy is rising but only if you
let it.
Many illnesses are caused by people not allowing yin energy to take over while
they continually press on with the day’s work and allow yang energy to flow
uninterrupted.
If you’re are not living as close as you can to the natural chi cycle then it is very
easy to continue to push your-self through kidney meridian time. In our
westernized culture we are as far removed from our natural energy cycle as can
be.
As mentioned earlier, one of the main causes of this is electricity and what it
powers; lights, television and computers. Less than 100 years ago electricity and
lights were not available and we followed the natural cycle of the sun much
more closely. Rising early with the sun and going to bed early when the sun sets.
In the early 1900's most people slept 10 hours a night and their bodies were well
rested because the chi cycle could complete its work. It will be very important in
pericardium meridian time (7pm-9pm) that you keep your use of lights,
television, computers and anything that emits light to a minimum.
The longer you leave the lights on the longer you are fooling your body that it is
daytime. Turn off the “electric” lights and try talking, reading, and relaxing by
candlelight.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine you can support the kidney meridian
by wearing blue.
The best way to enhance your chi at this time is to perform activities that
help your body switch from the use of yang to yin energy.
This can be achieved by spending time with family, friends or a lover (by
candlelight!). At this time any activity that helps you relax is helpful.
Makko Ho Bladder and Kidney Stretch:
Tap here to see this stretch in the previous chapter.
Kidney 3 is beneficial for emotional well-being and is located on the inside of
the foot, halfway between the Achilles tendon and the side of the anklebone.
You can press this point with a finger or the tip of a pencil eraser. It has a healing
effect when there is too much fear in the body and it has been said to help with
lower back pain.
Guard Yourself
Against Technology
7pm–9pm Pericardium
Meridian Time
Pericardium meridian time (7pm-9pm) is an extremely crucial time in the 24-
hour cycle of chi. The pericardium is the thin membrane that surrounds the heart
and the roots of the great blood vessels. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is the
protector of the heart.
This is the time of day when you must prepare to go to sleep in the next few
hours and be careful not to allow today's modern conveniences of light,
television, e-Book readers, smart phones and computers to distract you from
your natural instinct to go to sleep early.
Once you stay up too late you cannot get up early and begin the day in colon
meridian time (5am-7am). In today's modern world we have lost touch with our
natural surroundings and the natural cycle of life. Electricity, and more
specifically light, has helped human beings control our environment and kept us
safe but it has also hurt us by moving us further away from nature.
In the book, Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar and Survival , T.S. Wiley and Bent
Formby state, "the disastrous slide in the health of the American people
corresponds to the increase in light-generating night activities and the
carbohydrate consumption that follows." They argue (backed up by 100's of
scientific studies) that not sleeping a recommended 9.5 hrs in the winter
(September 15th - April 15th) as we would if we were in touch with the natural
cycle of the sun; leads to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has instinctively known this for thousands of years
but it has taken a healthcare crisis for western medicine to start to wonder what
the causes may be.
If you were going to wake up at 6am then you would need to be asleep (not
reading a book or watching TV in bed) at 9:00pm. So you would want to start
getting ready for bed at 8:00pm and be in bed by 8:30pm in order to be asleep at
9:00pm.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine you can support the Pericardium
meridian by wearing red.
The best way to enhance your chi at this time before you go to sleep to do
things you enjoy most in life (reading, music, crafts or hobbies) and then
get ready for bed.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine you can support the gall bladder
meridian by wearing green.
The best way to enhance your chi at this time is to be fast asleep.
It is said to use this point only when there is heat, as when you're red in the face
or your skin feels hot to the touch and you're feeling warm from prolonged anger
(not from exertion). Don't use when weak or low on energy.
Makko Ho Gall Bladder and Liver Stretch:
Tap here to see this stretch in the previous chapter.
Resources
For more information on our 24/7 Chi App for the iPhone and chi enhancing
exercises please visit our website at:
BodyEnergyBook.com
Contact the Author:
Matthew Harrigan
Email: bodyenergybooks@gmail.com